Community

The Cross Inn, Hayscastle Cross, Haverfordwest awarded £244K grant to save it from closure

Published

3 years ago

June 30, 2023

IT’S THE COMMUNITY news story of the year that just gets better. The intrepid volunteers from Hayscastle Cross who recently pulled all the stops out to raise over £210,000 to save their beloved local pub from closure, have now been awarded a grant of £244,250 from the UK Community Ownership Fund to allow the pub to pass into the ownership of the community itself.

One of 6 Community based projects in Wales to receive the vital injection of funding, the team are absolutely delighted.

Y Cross Cas-lai Community Benefit Society Ltd Chairman, Geraint Evans, expressed his profound gratitude, stating, “this wonderful grant makes it possible for us to create the pub and community hub we dreamed of creating. We are very grateful to receive this incredible funding boost. It’s also a massive thank you to all our friends, families, local residents, and numerous businesses, including the current owners, who continue to put in so much time, effort and goodwill to make this all happen.”

Of the small team of local volunteers who pulled all the elements of the funding application together, Evans had a very special thank you “you told our story and set out our mission in your own words and that passion and commitment clearly shone through in the application, thank you”.

And in one final thank you for the Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire. Geraint said “he’s been with us all the way, lending real tangible support”. Geraint was clear that putting vital assets back into community ownership is the kind of levelling up politics that really matters in these turbulent economic times. Crabb even wrote to Rt Hon. Michael Gove, endorsing the bid and highlighted the shared values between Y Cross Cas-lai Benefit Society Ltd. and the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund, which aims to “safeguard the small, but much-loved local assets on which we cannot put a price.”

Pubs in Wales will receive a total of £694,250 from the Community Ownership Fund to allow them to stay open and serve the needs of local people. The money will allow locals to restore the pubs to benefit their communities.

The Cross Inn will receive £244,250 as one of 6 community-based projects across Wales to receive UK gvt funding. There is £1.44m total funding available across 6 projects, taking the total investment across the funding lifecycle to £3.2m in Wales.

The Y Cross Cas-lai Community Benefit Society Ltd. (the Society), led by Evans, is the driving force behind the ambitious endeavour to save their pub from closure. The Society will now buy the pub, give it a face lift, retain all the best bits and build it back as a profitable pub that uses its profits to restore lost services to the community. The Society intend to create a welcoming and vibrant village pub that doubles as a community hub. With the profits generated from the pub, they will restore some of the essential services that the community desperately needs, having already lost two garages, a shop, a Post Office, and the local school.

Community

Milford paddling pool could close after rowdy adults seen throwing glass bottles

Published

10 hours ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN TOWN COUNCIL has warned that the town’s paddling pool could be drained and closed if anti-social behaviour continues.

The warning follows an incident today in which rowdy adults were reportedly drinking alcohol from glass bottles inside the pool enclosure and throwing a glass bottle around.

The council also said people were seen smoking cannabis just outside the gate.

In a statement, Milford Haven Town Council said the behaviour was “highly dangerous, irresponsible and inconsiderate” and “cannot and will not be tolerated”.

The council warned: “If this sort of behaviour continues we will have no choice but to consider draining and closing the pool.”

The paddling pool is run voluntarily by a dedicated group of councillors for the benefit of local families and visitors.

The council is now urging people to act responsibly so the facility can remain open and be enjoyed safely by everyone.

Community

Choir to sing at ten bandstands in one day for Alzheimer’s charity

Published

10 hours ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Côr Meibion De Cymru will begin its South Wales challenge at Milford Haven before finishing in Cardiff

A WELSH male voice choir will sing at ten bandstands in one day as part of an ambitious charity challenge across South Wales.

Côr Meibion De Cymru, the South Wales Male Choir, will begin its Ten Bandstands Challenge at The Rath in Milford Haven at 7:00am on Sunday, May 31.

The choir will then travel east, performing short concerts at Tenby, Carmarthen, Kidwelly, Llandeilo, Neath, Barry Island, Penarth and Newport before finishing at Victoria Park in Cardiff at around 8:00pm.

The event is being held in aid of Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, with organisers aiming to raise £5,000.

The choir says the challenge is intended to create a “red wave of singing” across South Wales, while celebrating the Welsh male voice choir tradition and showing that it remains a powerful part of Welsh cultural life.

The full schedule is:

Milford Haven, The Rath: 7:00am to 7:20am
Tenby, Castle Hill: 8:25am to 8:45am
Carmarthen, Carmarthen Park: 9:55am to 10:15am
Kidwelly, Parc Y Bocs: 11:00am to 11:20am
Llandeilo, Penlan Park: 12:30pm to 1:00pm
Neath, Victoria Gardens: 2:00pm to 2:20pm
Barry Island, Friars Road: 3:55pm to 4:20pm
Penarth, Windsor Gardens: 5:10pm to 5:30pm
Newport, Belle Vue Park: 6:35pm to 6:55pm
Cardiff, Victoria Park: 7:50pm to 8:10pm

Organisers say timings may vary slightly depending on traffic on the day.

The challenge is being promoted as a celebration of music, community and Welsh identity, while raising money for a cause that affects families across Wales.

More information and donations are available through the choir’s JustGiving campaign.

Community

Police issue A477 crash appeal after five taken to hospital

Published

12 hours ago

May 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FIVE people were taken to hospital, three with serious injuries, following a collision on the A477 between Llanteg and Red Roses on Sunday (May 24).

Dyfed-Powys Police said the crash happened at around 5:00pm and involved a grey Honda Civic i-VTEC and a white Kia Soul 2.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and remains in police custody.

Officers are appealing for anyone who was driving on the A477 at around the time of the collision, or who may have dash-cam footage of either vehicle before the crash, to come forward.

Police said visitors to Pembrokeshire who may not know the area should check their route in case they were travelling along the A477 at the relevant time.

Anyone with information can contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], by direct message on social media, or by calling 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference: 326 of May 24.